MV Baro Awlia gets a new look

One might mistake MV Baro Awlia for a new ship if he does not know the coastal vessel has gone through a complete renovation.Many travellers, except the regular ones, would think that Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation has added a new passenger vessel to its fleet.After more than two years, the state-owned transport organisation is set to bring back the vessel to regular services between Chittagong and Hatiya via Sandwip.“We have already completed the renovation. The ship is now ready for carrying passengers,” BIWTC Chairman Mojibor Rahman said, adding that the Eid passengers are expected to get a better experience this time. Highspeed Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd, a local shipbuilder, carried out the repairs by replacing some 71 tonnes of MS (mild steel) plates.The shipbuilder overhauled its accommodation, main engines and generators, and did the work of painting and electrification, said Qamrul Hasan, director for marketing and promotion of Highspeed Group of Companies.

The government, however, had to go through some hurdles for awarding the ship’s renovation work due to a poor response.The BIWTC had invited bids for eight times. Finally, Highspeed was awarded the job in January at around Tk 5.10 crore.However, the contract value later rose to around Tk 5.69 crore as a higher amount of MS plates had to be replaced than estimated before, said KZ Siddiqui, senior general manager of Highspeed Group.The ship with the speed of 12 nautical miles per hour was imported from China in 2002 at around Tk 45 crore. It can carry 850 passengers and goods worth 880 tonnes. The vessel had gone for renovation first in 2006.Highspeed formally hander over the ship to the BIWTC yesterday, said Hasan, also a former chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.However, more than halfway through the renovation, the BIWTC had taken the ship from Highspeed for carrying homebound passengers on a test basis during the last Eid-ur-Fitr.Bangladesh can save a huge amount of foreign currencies by repairing the existing vessels without going for new purchases, Hasan said.The government should start overhauling its dilapidated vessels without any delay, he added.Since its inception more than 50 years ago, Highspeed has built at least 100 units of specialised ships such as fishing trawlers, oil tankers, dry cargo vessels, passenger ferries and coastal patrol boats.Highspeed Group has 15 companies, specialising in the field of plant engineering and shipbuilding. Its affiliated company, Birds Bangladesh Agencies Ltd, specialises in worldwide shipping container services.The other companies are working in the field of international trading, civil construction and air and sea freight forwarding.The Group is also involved in deep-sea fishing and carrying petroleum, oil and lubricants.It employs more than 1,000 people, including workers and engineers, with a gross annual turnover at around Tk 250 crore in recent times, according to KM Mahmood ur Rahman, chairman of the Group.